How to do everything and work less
1. If you spend 12 hours a day at your desk and still have no time to do things, it's time for a change
“Don't follow a model that doesn't work,” Ferris writes. “If the recipe is sloppy, nothing will come of it, no matter how good a cook you are.” Ferris himself, for example, has achieved great success by setting a rule for himself: he calls with offers to buy something only from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., because at this time you can get around secretaries, assistants and other staff and immediately reach out to managers.
2. Interest, energy and ability level all the time fall and grow
Trying to work in those moments when you feel bad is unproductive. It is better to plan such moments and take them into account, than to try to overcome them or to look at the screen for hours without any benefit.
3. To do less is not to be lazy
Resist the culture that puts personal sacrifice above personal productivity. Being productive and being busy - there is a big difference between these states. No need to measure the amount of work done: measure results and discard less important things that take forever.
4. Stop putting off difficult decisions because of the “wrong moment”
It kills your productivity. If you are waiting for the perfect moment to quit, take on more responsibility or take on a new risky project. Waiting for the right moment is just a delay tactic that allows you to entertain yourself with something. Lists of pros and cons serve the same role.
5. Ask people for forgiveness, not permission
Waiting for approval is the easiest way to put off or avoid what you don’t want to do. So you can blame another. But if you want to do something, just think that someone will refuse you, just do it. If the damage is not catastrophic, you can fix it or apologize.
6. Focus on what you are strong at, rather than trying to correct your weaknesses.
Most people in only a few things are above average, and in other respects they are pretty weak. Attempts to strengthen the weaknesses will lead only to minor improvements and bring you closer to the average level. And if you focus on your strengths, you can achieve an exceptional level in some area, which makes it much easier to capitalize on.
7. Learn to use stress, and don't let it weaken yourself and deprive you of confidence.
Bad stress - the boss screaming at you, unworthy criticism - this, of course, is bad. But without a certain level of stress, you are unlikely to get enough motivation. Examples of “good” stress are patterns that push you forward and risks that push you beyond your comfort zone.
8. Do not prefer the misfortune of uncertainty
Mentally describe the worst case scenario: what happens if you radically change your life? You may be fired, it will be difficult for you to pay the mortgage, you will have to sell the car. When, instead of vague fears, you see these scenarios in front of you, you will understand how unlikely they are, and you can come up with a plan to prevent them.
9. Sometimes fear is masked by optimism
You, perhaps, justify your inaction by the fact that further will be better. And now you are better than a week, a month, a year ago?
10. Set unrealistic and very ambitious goals
When people set “reasonable” goals, they enter a zone of fierce competition. Crazy, impossible goals are simpler: far fewer people are trying to achieve this.
11. Forget about time management
Time management tips usually teach you to do more in a day. But in fact, you need to focus on doing less: do the most difficult at once, and cut off everything else. Being able to respond quickly to letters is not necessarily good. This means that you spend too much time on a not very productive task. Focus on what brings the result.
12. Remember the 80/20 rule
80% of the results give 20% of the time and effort. Ask yourself two questions: what 20% of circumstances create 80% of problems and troubles for me? What 20% of circumstances bring me 80% of the desired results and joy? This way you can identify tasks, customers, or relationships that you just need to give up in order to focus on what makes you productive and successful.
13. Allow yourself less time for all things
Remember Parkinson’s law: the task is inflated in complexity and importance, depending on the time allotted for it. Usually you spend 8 working hours on something that can be done much faster.
14. Most problems are solved by themselves.
Enough to see all the rush, learn to "arbitrary forgetfulness." The more you limit the consumption of information, the less time you will spend searching, absorbing, and responding to all kinds of unproductive things. Try to read less media, limit correspondence and phone calls. Letters can be answered twice a day, at 12 and 16 hours.
15. Master the skill of not finishing things and interrupting people
All of us often undertake poorly thought out, difficult to fulfill and ineffective tasks. Sometimes this is inevitable, but more often, if you take it hard to prove that the task is not worth the time spent, you will get rid of it. The same goes for endless meetings and phone calls. Better being rude than being polite and wasting hours. Never make appointments without a clear plan and time limit, and when you need to, get up and leave.
16. Some cases simply take time and are constantly repeated
Do them all at once. Unanswered letters, unfilled questionnaires and the like are best done not between other matters, but by putting everything together in a jerk.
“Don't follow a model that doesn't work,” Ferris writes. “If the recipe is sloppy, nothing will come of it, no matter how good a cook you are.” Ferris himself, for example, has achieved great success by setting a rule for himself: he calls with offers to buy something only from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., because at this time you can get around secretaries, assistants and other staff and immediately reach out to managers.
2. Interest, energy and ability level all the time fall and grow
Trying to work in those moments when you feel bad is unproductive. It is better to plan such moments and take them into account, than to try to overcome them or to look at the screen for hours without any benefit.
3. To do less is not to be lazy
Resist the culture that puts personal sacrifice above personal productivity. Being productive and being busy - there is a big difference between these states. No need to measure the amount of work done: measure results and discard less important things that take forever.
4. Stop putting off difficult decisions because of the “wrong moment”
It kills your productivity. If you are waiting for the perfect moment to quit, take on more responsibility or take on a new risky project. Waiting for the right moment is just a delay tactic that allows you to entertain yourself with something. Lists of pros and cons serve the same role.
5. Ask people for forgiveness, not permission
Waiting for approval is the easiest way to put off or avoid what you don’t want to do. So you can blame another. But if you want to do something, just think that someone will refuse you, just do it. If the damage is not catastrophic, you can fix it or apologize.
6. Focus on what you are strong at, rather than trying to correct your weaknesses.
Most people in only a few things are above average, and in other respects they are pretty weak. Attempts to strengthen the weaknesses will lead only to minor improvements and bring you closer to the average level. And if you focus on your strengths, you can achieve an exceptional level in some area, which makes it much easier to capitalize on.
7. Learn to use stress, and don't let it weaken yourself and deprive you of confidence.
Bad stress - the boss screaming at you, unworthy criticism - this, of course, is bad. But without a certain level of stress, you are unlikely to get enough motivation. Examples of “good” stress are patterns that push you forward and risks that push you beyond your comfort zone.
8. Do not prefer the misfortune of uncertainty
Mentally describe the worst case scenario: what happens if you radically change your life? You may be fired, it will be difficult for you to pay the mortgage, you will have to sell the car. When, instead of vague fears, you see these scenarios in front of you, you will understand how unlikely they are, and you can come up with a plan to prevent them.
9. Sometimes fear is masked by optimism
You, perhaps, justify your inaction by the fact that further will be better. And now you are better than a week, a month, a year ago?
10. Set unrealistic and very ambitious goals
When people set “reasonable” goals, they enter a zone of fierce competition. Crazy, impossible goals are simpler: far fewer people are trying to achieve this.
11. Forget about time management
Time management tips usually teach you to do more in a day. But in fact, you need to focus on doing less: do the most difficult at once, and cut off everything else. Being able to respond quickly to letters is not necessarily good. This means that you spend too much time on a not very productive task. Focus on what brings the result.
12. Remember the 80/20 rule
80% of the results give 20% of the time and effort. Ask yourself two questions: what 20% of circumstances create 80% of problems and troubles for me? What 20% of circumstances bring me 80% of the desired results and joy? This way you can identify tasks, customers, or relationships that you just need to give up in order to focus on what makes you productive and successful.
13. Allow yourself less time for all things
Remember Parkinson’s law: the task is inflated in complexity and importance, depending on the time allotted for it. Usually you spend 8 working hours on something that can be done much faster.
14. Most problems are solved by themselves.
Enough to see all the rush, learn to "arbitrary forgetfulness." The more you limit the consumption of information, the less time you will spend searching, absorbing, and responding to all kinds of unproductive things. Try to read less media, limit correspondence and phone calls. Letters can be answered twice a day, at 12 and 16 hours.
15. Master the skill of not finishing things and interrupting people
All of us often undertake poorly thought out, difficult to fulfill and ineffective tasks. Sometimes this is inevitable, but more often, if you take it hard to prove that the task is not worth the time spent, you will get rid of it. The same goes for endless meetings and phone calls. Better being rude than being polite and wasting hours. Never make appointments without a clear plan and time limit, and when you need to, get up and leave.
16. Some cases simply take time and are constantly repeated
Do them all at once. Unanswered letters, unfilled questionnaires and the like are best done not between other matters, but by putting everything together in a jerk.
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